The ATSDR, or Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, activates in the United States, Atlanta, and takes care of health actions, informing people about diseases and preventing exposure to toxic chemicals that are largely found in any industry or construction site.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is also trying to help develop methods of treatment for asbestos related diseases. They help workers that are most likely to be exposed to asbestos receive the appropriate equipment and stay protected.
Asbestos treatment campaign
ATSDR held a campaign that better explained the methods of treatment for asbestos related diseases, and also provided with information on how to avoid exposure in the first place. The campaign took place in the following areas:
- schools
- construction sites
- doctors offices
- asylums
People received information about the treatment methods of asbestos diseases, and about the risks they take if not using appropriate filters and equipment when working with products containing asbestos.
The following subjects were approached during conferences:
- asbestos diseases treatment methods if already infected ( chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and some of the new methods were also discussed, like photodynamic therapy that destroys cancer cells by the use of light) this was mostly useful for patients and family, but also for those that work with asbestos
- methods for avoiding exposure
- explaining how cancer and asbestos related diseases centers care for their patients
Treating Asbestos related diseases
Asbestos treatment methods has to be started as soon as possible and it usually has to be done in a certain order:
- first mesothelioma cancer symptoms appear
- diagnosing is crucial, and has to be done very short after experiencing symptoms
- first treatment method: surgery, removing as much of the cancer cells as possible (used if tumors are detected)
- second treatment method: a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is used to kill the remaining cancer cells
- if the cancer tissue isn't completely gone, a second stage of chemotherapy is used
After each asbestos treatment phase, the patient has to go through another test phase and a week or two of recovery treatment. It gets hard to deal with treatment for asbestos related diseases for a longer period of time without any breaks.
More on asbestos treatment methods
If you require further information regarding the ATSDR, asbestos exposure prevention or treatment methods, and need to know the risk factors, please feel free to contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers.